February 3, 2013
England

Council pleased with windfarm survey results

The Local | 2 February 2013 | www.bournelocal.co.uk

A county council which has taken a tough stance on windfarms said it was pleased that residents had backed its plans in a survey.

Lincolnshire County Council carried out an online survey asking people for their opinion on windfarms.

The council’s cabinet approved guidelines in June, restricting where wind turbines can be built and making it more difficult for developers to get permission for windfarms.

The guidelines were issued to local planning authorities but the county council wanted to make the stance an official policy.

Just under 4,000 people completed the online survey and 89 per cent of respondents agreed with the county council’s position on windfarms.

Furthermore, 63 per cent of people felt windfarms had no role to play in meeting our energy needs.

And 87 per cent of people said the county council’s guidelines should be taken into account when new windfarms are considered.

Leader of the county council Martin Hill (Con) said: “Clearly our residents feel something has to be done about the unrestrained spread of wind turbines across the county.

“It also looks that, as far as our residents are concerned, the county council is on the right track.”

Coun Hill said the council understood the need for renewable energy but it couldn’t ignore the impact that wind turbines had on the countryside.

He said: “We need to make sure we balance our need for green energy against inappropriate developments that ruin the very environment we’re trying to protect.

“We’re confident our guidelines will bring that balance.”

A report will now be presented to the council’s executive members asking them to endorse a move to make the council’s current position official policy.

If they agree, the proposal will go before the full council on February 22 to be approved by members.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/02/03/council-pleased-with-windfarm-survey-results/